Steam-trap.



J. B. PUR'SBRJ STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION rILnn MAR. 10, 1910.

Patented Apr. 1911.

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.ooqoooooo aktou n13 J. E. PURSER.

STEAM TRAP. nrmmnon rmm 111111. 10, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C00 0000 N \N lllf J NV) Ewe/14 1M Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

J. E. PURSER.

STEAM TRAP. APPLICATION rxLnn mn m, 1910.

988,385. 8 Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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J. B PURSER.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLIOATION rILsn MAR. 10, 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

J. E. PURSER.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION nun MAR. 10, 1910.

988,385, Patented Apr. 4,1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

, plan 11,111,573.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EWARD 'PURSEZR, 0F"WINDSOR,0NT1ABIO, CANADA, ASSIGNO'R 1E0 :HERBERTJ.

--1VL01REH'EAD, 10F DETROIT, IMIGHIGAN.

STEAM-TRAP.

. Specification of Letters 'Patent.

Patented Apr; 4:, 31911.

Application filed March 1.0, 1910. Serial No. 548,514.

To all whom (it may concern:

'Be it .known that I, JAMEs EDWARD Pnnsnn, .a subject of the Kin ofGreat Britain, residing.- .at' Windsor, county of Essex,Province ofOntario, Canada have in- The object of my invention is an improve-'ment' in the general construction of trapsof the tilting type,thepurpose of which is to produce a more effective and efficient apparatus,to reduce the costof-manufacture, and

the cost of .assembling the parts.

One' -feature of the present invention con- .sists in providing .meanswhereby the valve controlling the admission of steam'to the tank may befully opened through the action of the tank in tilting. The arrangementof the weighted lever,-serving to hold the tank in its normalposition,being such that the movement of" the same is greater than thatofthe .tank. lever operating the steam valve, which is connected by arod with the tank supporting'lever, is thereby adaptedtov openthe steamvalve to a greater extent than has heretofore been possible in traps ofthis t e.

iinother feature of the invention consists in providing ball bearings atone end of the trunnion on which the tank is mounted to re duce thefriction of that end .of the trunnion resulting from the suddenadmission of boiler pressure to'the tank,..the arrangement alsoproviding for the admission of steam at the end of the trunnion tobalance of-its tilting movement may be controlled.

"Another feature isthe bracket member secured tothe side of the'tank towhich is pivoted the weighted lever designed to sup- It will thus. beseen that the and to which'the rod for operating theair vent valve isengaged.

Other advantages and improvements will hereafter appear.

.In the drawings accompanying this specification: Figure 1 is a si'deelevation of: the .trap in its normal position. Fig.2 isa side elevationof the trap -with parts broken away, showing it-i-n theposition occupiedwhen discharging condensation back to the boiler. Fig. 3 'is'a'sideelevation'of the trap in its normal position, looking toward-the sideopposite to that shown in-Fig. 1,-the vicw indicating the-pipes'leadingfrom the heating or 'condensingpsystem to thetrap and" from the trap tothe boiler. Fig. 4 is'a plan view of the apparatus with a portion of thetilting tank brokenaway to disclose the constructionand arrangementofthe parts lying directly below the same. Fig. 5 "CI'OSS-SEClIIOIIfllview. on' line 5-5 of' Fig.

1, looking-"inthe direction indicated by the.

7 is-a detail perspective view of the casting mounted upon the lever forsupporting the tilting tank, tozwhi'ch the arm engaging the steam valvelever is attached.

As is Well known return traps of this type are mounted above theboiler-and connected therewith by suitable piping; being'also connected'with the heating system or other condensing surface so to deliver thecondensat-ion into the tilting tank,thelatter being supported normallyin a horizontal position to receive the-water by awveighted leverprovidedfor the purpose. Upon the condensation accumulating in the trapsufliciently to overcome the action of the weighted lever, the trap isforced to tilt; this action opens the valve controlling theadmission ofsteam from the boiler to the tilting tank. The pressure in the tank andthat in the boiler being now equalized by theadmission of steamto thetank, the condensation accumulated in the tank is free to flow-bygravity back to the boiler. ,VVhen the water in the tank has beendischarged, the weighted lever again becomes active and forces the 55port the tilting tank in its normalposition, tilting tank back to itsnormal position which action closes the steam valve and opens an airvent, whereby the pressure remaining 1n the tank is exhausted leavingthe water, or condensation, again free to enter the tank. Suitable checkvalves are provided between the boiler and trap, and between the trapand heating system, which alternately close against the boiler pressure,and the heating system, in accordance with the position of the tiltingtank, as will be hereafter explained.

I will now indicate the several parts by reference letters.

A is a base plate of suitable form upon which are bolted chamberedbearings B and B.

C and C are trunnions supported in the bearings B and B and engaged to ahub C from which rises a steam pipe C A. passage c is provided in thehub to connect the trunnion C with said pipe.

D is a tilting tank mounted at one side of its center of gravity uponthe steam pipe G a connecting section of pipe being provided, projectingupwardly in the tank to a point relatively near its top.

C is a water pipe leading from the hub C upwardly on an angle andconnected with the forward end of the tank. To facilitate the readyconnection of this pipe with the tank and hub, it is formed in twosections joined together by a coupling G 0 is a passage in the hub Cconnecting thepipe C with the tubular trunnion C.

E. E, arebrass bushings for the trunnions C and C being bolted to theirrespective chambered bearings B and B. Integral with the bushings arestufiing boxes, cooperating with the' glands e and e in turn adapted foradjustment by the bolts engaging the bushing to the bearings, whereby atight joint is secured between the chambered bearings and the trunnions.The bushing E is provided with anend wall 6 which serves as a race forthe ball bearing F. The end of the trunnion C being closed and providedwith a circular channel, forms the opposite race for theball bearing.-The trunnion C is provided with radial ports 0 opening into thechambered portion of the bearing B. The bushing E is also provided withradial ports 6 whereby communication is established between thechambered bearing B and the trunnion. the bushing extend to a pointadjacent to the end of the trunnion, thereby admitting steam between theend of the trunnion and bushing to assist in equalizing the pressure.

G is a weighted lever one end of which projects beyond the end of thetank, being pivoted at g to the bracket H secured to the tank. G is aweight adjustably secured to said lever.

I is a swinging leg serving as a fulcrum for the weighted lever G, beingsupported The radial ports in at its lower end in a socket 1 bolted tothe side of the base plate. The swinging leg at its top is slotted forthe passage of the weighted lever at which point it is provided with aknife edge 2' designed to enter a corresponding notch in the lever.

J is a steam valve governing the admission of steam from the boiler tothe tank through the pipe J connected with the chambered bearing B.

J is a weighted lever fulcrumed to an" arm y' mounted upon the casing ofthe valve J.

j is a valve stem pivoted to the weighted lever by a bolt projectingthrough the slot j in said lever.

K is an adjustable arm connected to the end of the weighted lever G by acasting L mounted thereon and provided with guide lugs Z and Z betweenwhich said arm is adjustably secured by a bolt Z engaging the lever Gthrough a slot in the arm K. The arm K at its lower end is forked andbetween its tines is ournaled a friction roll is designed to bear uponthe weighted lever J when the tank is tilted as shown in Fig. 2.

M is a relief valve connected by a nipple and suitable elbows with thechambered bearing B. M is a weighted lever for actuating said valve.

M is a rod suspended from the bracket H,

its lower end projecting through an aperture.

provided in the end of the lever M.

m is a. stop sleeved on the rod M and adapted to be secured to thelatter. By adjusting the stop the weighted lever M may be actuated to agreater or less extent upon the tank returning to its normal position.

By referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, it

will be seen that when the steam valve J is open the relief valve M isclosed, and vice versa.

To govern the degree to which said tank may be tilted an adjustable stoprod N is provided secured to the tilting tank at one end by a jointed orpivotal connection 12..

tines of the casting 0. By adjusting these nuts, the limit of movementallowed the tank is controlled.

P is a check valve in line with the pipe P leading from the heatingsystem or other condensing surface to the tank.

P is a check valve in line with the pipe P leading from the tank t-o.theboiler.

Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, theconstruction and operation of the trap will be readily understood.

As is well known, the trap should be mounted approximately fourfeetabove the water level of the boiler, and connected with porteddn-ahorizontal position as indicated 1n F1g. 1, the condensation is now freeto enter the'tank throughthepipe P, past the check-valve P, throughthetrunnion C and pipe G tothetank. When the weight of the wateraccumulated in the tank overcomesthe-action of the weighted lever G, thetank will -tilt. This actioni causes the friction roll carnie'd by thearm K tobear upon .the weighted lever J thereby opening the steamvalveJ, at the same time releasing the wveighted lever M of 'the'relief valveM,

by which means the latter is seated. Immediately upon thesteamvalve'being opened,

boiler pressure isadmitted torthe tank by way-of the pipe J through thechambered bearingfB; from thence through the ports of-thetrunnion C,through the trunnion to the pipe C and by it 'to the tilting tan-kabove; thereby equalizing the pressure in thetank with that in theboiler. The pres- -sure in thetank being equal to that in the boiler,the-condensationin the tank is free to pass by gravity'out through thepipe G, through thepassage c, the trunnion C" eon-- nected-vvith -thechambered bearing 13, and

so thence through=the pipe Pflpast the check valve P to the boiler. Itwill be seen that upon the admission of steam to the tank that thecheok'va'lve'P will close against the heatingr systemthereby preventingthe entry of water to :thetankuntil the tank resumes its and thetrunnion for the purpose of equaliznormal positionand also preventingthe passage of boiler pressure to the heating system,it being understoodthat the pressure in -the heating-system isnominal compared withthat oftheboiler. Owing to the sudden admission of boiler pressure to the tank,it ihas been found that the trunnio-ns on which the tank is mounted areapt to bind in-"the bearings due to the end thrust resulting from theadmission of boiler pressure.

To relieve the friction I have provided a ball bearing at the end ofthetrunnion and have :also provided for the admission of steambetweentheend wall of the bushing ing the pressureon the-trunnions.Immediately upon the water in the tank being discharged intothe-'boilen: the-weighted 1ever G again becomesactive returningthe tankto its horizontal or-normal position.

This action closes the steam valve I J, its weighted lever J becomingactive when relieved of thepressure of the arm K. As the tank D'assumesits normal positionyit lifts *therodN 1 secured to the bracket Hattached quickly freedof any remaining pressure con-v *tained' therein,thereby putting it in condiwater connections.

tion to again receive the condensation from the heating system. Upon thetank assuming its horizontalor normal positiom t-he checkvalve P isopened :to'thmpressureof the heating system. The -;condensation,isDOWlfIfiGxtO pass to the tank, whileithe check valve 1 closes, due totheboiler pressure, which is thereby cut off.

As heretofore constructed, the bearings for the trunnions have formedianintegral part .of the base plate,--.the basebeingchambered to afford apassage for steam and This construction 1 has been foundobjectionablezin machining and assembling the parts it being much morecostly tomachine and particularly difficult to properly aline thebearingsin orderto insure freedom .of movement of the trunnions. Thepresent construction provides for independent chambered bearings -theparts being relatively small are easy .to ma- :chine and theconstructionis such that they maybe assembled by causing thetrunnions toenter their open side walls when it is .a comparatively easy mattertoproperly aline the parts and secure the hearings to the base.

In order to control the degree ofmovement accorded to the tiltingtank,-a jointed screw-threaded rod N is provided, -the tank being freeto move a distance corresponding tothe space between the adjustable nuts0% and 01 mounted thereon.

By the present construction I :am enabled to i provide a greater valvemovement. than has heretofore been possible in traps of this type,-ithaving been customary to directly connect the means governing theraising of the steam "valve lever with the tank thus limitingthemovement of the lever to the degree of movement afforded'by the tank.In the present construction: the tank is supported in its normalposition by a weighted lever independent of the same, and not :by aweight attached to the end of the tank or by a weighted leverwhichsimply servesto return the tank :to its normal positiomandperforming no other function.

It will be-seen by reference to the drawings that'by a peculiararrangement of the parts in the present construction, I am enabled tosecure a greater degree of movement of the lever governin the opening ofthe steam valve, than would be possible if said lever was operateddirectly by the tilting tank.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a steam trap,a tilting tank, means for separately leading both condensation and steamto the tank, a weighted lever pivoted to the tank flllCliflllCIllIHQd toprovidea movement of the end of the lever. relatively greater than thatof the tank in tilting, a valve governing the admission of steam to thetank, alever' controlling the operation &

of said valve, and means carried by the first named lever for actuatingthe steam valve lever upon the tilting of the tank.

2. In a steam trap, a tilting tank, tubular trunnions communicating withand supporting the tank and through which steam and condensation maypass to the tank, one of the trunnions having a closed end, chamberedbearings for said trunnions, an annular bushing inclosingthe trunnionwhich has a closed end and provided with radial slots to establishcommunication between the corresponding chambered bushing and thetrunnion which has the closed end, a ball bearing between the end wallof the bushing and the closed end of the trunnion, and an automaticallycontrolled valve for admitting steam to the tank through said trun-IllOIl.

3. In a steam trap, a tilting tank, tubular trunnions communicating withand supporting the tank and through which steam and condensation maypass to the tank, chambered bearings for said trunnions, one of saidtrunnions having a closed end, an annular bushing inclosing the trunnionwhich has a closed end, the bushing and the trunnion having openings forregistration to establish a cut-0E communication between the trunnionwhich has a closed end and the corresponding bushing, and anautomatically controlled valve for admitting steam to the tank throughsaid tubular trunnion.

a. In a steam trap, a tilting tank, a base plate upon which said tank issupported, a bracket bolted to one end of said tank, a weighted leverpivoted in said tank bracket, one end of said lever projecting beyondthe end of the tank, a swinging fulcrum bar for said lever provided witha knife edge adapted to enter a corresponding notch formed in the lever,a recessed member carried by the base to support the lower end of theswinging fulcrum bar, a valve controlling the admission of steam to thetank, a weighted lever for operating said valve, an arm secured to theprojectmg end of the first named lever adapted to actuate the steamvalve lever, a relief valve adapted to be opened when the steam valve isclosed and vice versa, said relief valve also provided with a weightedlever, and an arm engaging said relief valve lever actuated by themovement of the tank and provided with an adjustable stop whereby saidrelief valve may be opened when the tank is returned to its normalposition.

5. In a steam trap, means for separately leading both condensation andsteam to the trap, a tilting tank supported upon trunnions, a baseplate, bearings for the trunnions mounted upon the base plate, one ofthe bearings having a closed end wall, a ball bearing between the end ofone of the trunnions and the closed end wall of the bearing support-ingthe trunnion, whereby the friction due to the lateral thrust of thetrunnion may be relieved, and an automatically operated valvecontrolling the admission of steam to the tank.

6. In a steam trap, means for separately leading both condensation andsteam to the trap, a tilting tank supported upon tubular trunnionsadapted for the passage of steam to the tank and condensation to andfrom the tank, the trunnions supported in suitable bearings, a baseplate carrying bearings to receive the trunnions, one of the bearingshaving a closed end wall, a ball hearing between the closed end wall ofone of said bearings and the end of the trunnion to reduce the friction.due to lateral thrust of said trunnion in admitting steam to the tank,an automatically operated valve governing the admission of steam throughone of the trunnions to the tank, and a pair of check valves; one ofwhich is in line with the pipe for leading condensation to the othertrunnion, the other of said check valves being in line with the pipeleading from said last named trunnion to a boiler.

7. In a steam trap, a tilting tank, tubular trunnions supporting thetank through which steam and condensation may pass to said tank,chambered bearings for said trunnions secured to a base plate, the baseplate, an annular bushing inclosing the end of one of said trunnionsprovided with radial slots for the passage of steam to the trunnion, astufling box for insuring a tight joint between the trunnion andbearing, a ball bearing between the end wall of the bushing and theclosed end of the trunnion, and an'automatically controlled valve foradmitting steam to the tank through said tubular trunnion, substantiallyas described.

8. In a steam trap, a base plate, bearings mounted on the base plate,trunnions having communication with the tank and supported in saidbearings and through which trun-' nions steam and condensation may passto said tank, a weighted lever provided with a knife edge adapted toengage the weighted lever, an automatically operated valve governing theadmission of steam through one of the trunnions to the tank, and a pairof check valves, one in line with the pipe for leading condensation tothe other trunnion, and the other of said check valves being inline'with the pipe leading from the said last named trunnion to theboiler.

9. In a steam trap, a tilting tank supported upon trunnions, thetrunnions, a base plate carrying bearings for said trunnions,

to the tank, a relief valve, a lever for actuating said relief valve,and a rod suspended from the bracket provided with an adjustable stop toengage the lever of the relief valve whereby the latter may be actuatedupon the tank being returned to its normal position.

10. In a steam trap, a tilting tank, tubular trunnions supporting thetank through which steam and condensation may pass to said tank, one ofsaid trunnions being closed at its end and provided with radial portsfor the passage of steam, chambered bearings for said trunnions securedto a base plate, the base plate, means for admit ting steam bet-ween theend of the bearing and the closed end of the trunnion whereby thepressure may be balanced relieving the end thrust on the bearing due tothe admission of steam to the tank, a stufiing box for insuring a tightjoint between the trunnion and bearing, and an automatically controlledvalve for admitting steam to the tank through said tubular trunnions,substantially as described.

11. In a steam trap, a tilting tank, means for separately leadingcondensation and steam to the tank, a valve governing the admission ofsteam to the tank, a lever controlling the operation of said valve and aweighted lever pivoted to the tank and fulcrumed to provide a movementof the end of the lever relatively greater than that of the tank intilting and having connection with the lever which controls said valveto effect a full opening of the steam valve under the influence of thetilting action of the tank.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES EDWVARD PURSER.

Witnesses:

GRACE E. I/VYNKoQP, SAMUEL E. THOMAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

